Adoption

Adopting from the Animal Welfare Shelter

Ready to Adopt?

What type of pet can you expect to find at a shelter?

Tulsa Animal Welfare cares for thousands of lost, stray, abandoned and relinquished animals every year. Some of these pets are eventually reunited with their owners, but the remaining thousands need new homes. Because the TAWS accepts all unwanted, injured, stray and sick animals in the City, we are often unable to find homes for all the pets in need.

DOGS: Only 1 in 4 dogs stays with the first family that buys or takes him in. The others are passed between owners and many end up at animal shelters. Most of these are normal, young dogs in need of basic training. Unfortunately, being purebred does not help a dog keep his home. A quarter of dogs in shelters are purebred, about the same portion as the general pet population.

CATS: The number of cats that keep their homes is far lower. Many cats are allowed access to the outdoors where they become lost. Many pet cats are not spayed and neutered in time to prevent unwanted kittens. We have so many kittens during the summer we cannot find homes for all of them. We have also received purebred cats including Persians, Maine Coon, Ragdoll and Scottish Fold.

Other Pets: Tulsa Animal Welfare occasionally has small mammals, birds, reptiles and farm animals for adoption.

Is there a fee to adopt from a shelter? Tulsa Animal Welfare is funded by your tax dollars. To recoup part of the cost of caring for animals, the City charges an adoption fee.

Animal

Adoption Fee

Dogs/puppies

$75

Cats/kittens

$25

Note: Adoption Fees for Dogs and Cats Include:

Cost of spaying or neutering.

Age appropriate vaccinations.

One year COT pet license (animals 4 months of age are licensed).

Rabbits

$25

Ferrets

$25

Reptiles

Varies depending on breed

Birds

Varies depending on breed

Hamsters

$5

Guinea Pigs

$5

Chickens

$5

Donkeys

$50

Pot Belly Pigs

$75

Horses

Varies

Benefits of Adopting If you are ready to make a commitment to the right pet, you will not only save a life, you'll enhance your own. People with pets live longer and recover from illness faster than people who have none. Children with pets learn empathy and responsibility earlier than other children. Research suggests that children with pets handle family tragedy, such as divorce, better and may have fewer problems with allergies.

Ready to Get Started? Come On Down!

How to Adopt You must meet the following requirements in order to be able to adopt an animal from the Tulsa Animal Welfare Department Shelter:

Be 18 years of age or older with a valid Oklahoma driver's license or other acceptable identification.

Never have had any cruelty convictions, animal control violations or broken any adoption contracts in the past.

Download and print the Adoption Application and take the completed form with you to the Shelter. You can also complete the form at the shelter.

Visit with the animal you plan to adopt.

Pay the adoption fees by cash, check, or credit card. Debit cards are not accepted.

Pay the adoption fee the same day as the adoption. We do not place any holds on any animals.

Know the laws and regulations of keeping a pet in the City of Tulsa (ordinances).